Six charged over Sydney child prostitution ring

By Lisa Davies

Six people have been charged after girls as young as 12 were allegedly used to sell sex to older men in a case police describe as appalling and a "sad reflection of what happens in our community".

Police smashed what they say was an organised child prostitution ring in Sydney's south-western suburbs that had possibly been operating for up to two years. The victims, police allege, were aged from 12 to 16 and were runaways, living rough or from troubled families.

''An underbelly of our society'' ... police escort one of the five suspects arrested yesterday in connection with a child prostitution ring in Sydney's south-west.Credit:NSW Police Force

Officers yesterday conducted simultaneous raids, arresting two sisters, aged 19 and 22, at their home in Warwick Farm and three men, aged 51, 52 and 53, after raids on properties in Canley Vale, Cabramatta West, Northmead and Chester Hill. A fourth man, a 55-year-old from Cabramatta, was arrested after attending Liverpool police station about 7.35pm yesterday.

Police alleged that for as little as $10, the men allegedly used the sisters to procure sex with young girls. In cars, motel rooms and residential units, police allege the women manipulated the girls into sleazy rendezvous, using drugs as an inducement for sex with the older men.

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"The only positive is that... we can get them into support services immediately" ... Detective Inspector Doherty.Credit:NSW Police Force

"These are children that have been abused and manipulated," the Liverpool Local Area Commander, Ray King, said. "We don't know how they will be in 20 years. It's quite traumatic. It's probably an underbelly of our society today that this type of issue or offence can occur."

The Liverpool police crime manager, Danny Doherty, said detectives from Strike Force Woodvale had originally arrested the 22-year-old alleged ringleader in March. But investigations had continued and, through a combination of victims contacting police and officers discovering others, a disturbing picture emerged.

"It's appalling, it's a sad reflection of what happens in our community. The only positive is that people have come forward to get assistance and we can get them into support services immediately," Detective Inspector Doherty said. "The range and scope of the whole syndicate in terms of its clientele basis is still to be determined."

However, he would not be drawn on how many more clients might be charged.

Inspector Doherty said the three men aged 51 to 53 were "average Joes" from normal suburban homes.

"I can't comment if they are known to police but, at this stage they have just presented as the average man in suburban households, coming from suburbs in nearby areas," he said.

The 51-year-old man faces seven charges - two counts of the aggravated sexual assault of a victim under 16, two counts of participating as a client with a child under 14 in prostitution, two counts of operating premises where a child participates in prostitution, and one count of using a carriage service to engage in sexual activity with a child.

These are children that have been abused and manipulated.

The 52-year-old man was charged with five offences – acting as a client with a child between 14 and 18 in prostitution, using a carriage service to engage in sexual activity with a child, aggravated sexual assault of a victim under 16, participating as a client with child under 14 in prostitution, and using a carriage service to procure a child under 16 for sexual activity.

The 55-year-old man faces five charges, including the aggravated sexual assault of a child under 16, acting as a client with a child between 14 and 18 in prostitution, commiting an act of indecency against a child under 16, participating as a client with a child under 14 in prostitution, and using a carriage service to engage in sexual activity with a child.

All five were refused bail to appear in Campbelltown Local Court today.

The 53-year-old man was charged with four counts of acting as a client with a child between 14 and 18 in prostitution and appeared in Parramatta Local Court yesterday.

Police will allege in court that the sisters contacted their clients by phone, arranging transactions in a variety of locations.

Inspector Doherty said the "street grapevine" may have been a common thread in the clients finding out about the opportunities with the girls, but the victims were coerced into very dangerous situations.